| Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. When US President Donald Trump floated the idea of taking over Greenland, it jolted Denmark into a rare moment of geopolitical prominence. Against this backdrop, the small Nordic nation assumed the rotating six-month EU presidency this week. The message from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was clear: Europe needs to step up defense to protect its borders at a time when it's facing conflicts on many fronts. Set in charming Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city, the official kick-off of the EU presidency was branded as a celebration, with street parties, concerts, impro comedy and poetry slam. There was even a reception on Dannebrog, the Royal Yacht, with King Frederik X and Queen Mary. But a different, more somber mood overshadowed the event, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy suddenly landed at Aarhus Airport in the morning.  Mette Frederiksen, Denmark's prime minister, at the European Political Community summit in May. Photographer: Atdhe Mulla/Bloomberg The message could not be clearer. Zelenskiy was invited to set the tone for the next six months and hammer home to fellow EU leaders that Ukraine's and Europe's future security are inextricably linked – preferably with Ukraine ultimately becoming a member of the European Union, according to Frederiksen. The Danish leader, who has been prime minister since 2022, said that it's only by standing together in this "age of predators" that Europe and Ukraine can avoid ending up as prey, as she stood alongside Zelenskiy and European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in the summer sun. The silver-lining of the current geo-political moment for Brussels is that it appears to be fueling pro-European sentiment in some corners of the EU, including Denmark. Famous for its opt-outs from the EU rulebook, its frugality toward the common budget and its skepticism towards the European project, now the Nordic country is supportive of EU common defense, and open to discuss a bigger joint budget — if better spent. Support for the EU among Danes is now at a record high. "We see the new political winds from the US," Marie Bjerre, the country's minister for EU Affairs told reporters. "We did not like to see how President Zelenskiy was treated in the White House and we do not like to be threatened with tariffs and trade wars from our best friends and allies." With war on the continent and trust in old allies shaken, officials in Copenhagen now embark on a six-month task to prove that Europe must stand together — or risk becoming the next target. _ Sara Sjolin, Copenhagen Bureau Chief and Jorge Valero, EU Reporter | 
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